CHAPTER 3
CATCHMENT / WATERSHED TREATMENT
EXERCISE
QUESTION FOR WRITTEN WORK
Answer the following question in brief:
(1) State the main benefits of catchment/watershed treatment.
Ans.
Catchment treatment helps in achieving the objectives of soil conservation
(i.e. prevention) of soil erosion) and protected irrigation for plant growth.
(2) Where are bunds built and how are they built?
Ans.
i) It is built on the steep slopes of hills as well as plain fields.
ii) Field is prepared on the slopes of hills by digging some
parts and filling half part like steps.Where the soil dept is
sufficient and water is available, the slopes are converted to
bunds.
3) Explain the significance of contour trench.
Ans.
i) Rain water runoff in the hilly regions and mountain tops is
reduced.
ii) Normally per thousand running metres length and 0.30m depth,
180 cubic metre and 0.45 m depth, 270 cubic metre water is stored.
iii) Soil erosion is reduced.
iv) Fallow land on the hill slopes is brought under cultivation.
(4) What should be done to prevent check dams from
collapsing?
Ans.
In order of effectively slow water velocity to reduce
erosion and to protect the channel between dams in a larger
system, spacing must be designed properly. Check dams
should be spaced such that the toe of the upstream check
dam is equal to the elevation of the downstream check
dam's crest.
(5) Write in brief about the procedure of constructing earthen
stream dam.
Ans.
The procedure of constructing earthen stream dam is:
i) Check dam is constructed at the right place in the stream and
excess water is released at a controlled speed.
ii) Dams are constructed with catchment area between 10 to 40
hectares and 42 to 500 hectares.
(6) Explain the care to be taken while deepening the
streams.
Ans.
i) Streams are not to be deepened if they are filled with sand
storage or alluvial soil.
ii) Stream deepening is suitable in "Bajada" part of the
topography. It helps introducing excess rainwater runoff.
iii) It helps in controlling soil erosion.
(7) Write two precautions to be taken for catchment / watershed
treatment.
Ans.
i) To get ensured benefits of catchment treatment the type of soil, sloped
of land , thickness of soil layers , other geographical conditions are to
be studied systematically .
ii) Don't pour toxic household chemicals down the drain , take them to
hazardous waste centres.
iii) Use hardy plants that require little watering, fertilizers or pesticides
in your yard .